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July 28, 2026

Opening ceremony of first course of Mainland Training Programme for Captains of Hong Kong District Services and Community Care Teams

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The opening ceremony of the first course of the Mainland Training Programme for Captains of the Hong Kong District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) was held today (July 28) at the National Academy of Governance in Beijing.

At the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, said that Care Teams were an important part of the Government’s efforts to enhance district governance. Captains of Care Teams lead team members and volunteers in supporting the Government’s district work. Together with the District Councils and the three District Committees, they form the “troika” of enhanced district governance and shoulder the important responsibility of enhancing district governance. The country attaches great importance to grassroots work, and Care Teams are an integral part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)’s grassroots works. Their contributions are heart warming and meaningful, and are well recognised and valued by the community.

Miss Mak said, “To further strengthen Care Team captains’ understanding of the country’s latest development and grassroots governance on the Mainland, the Government is arranging for captains of Care Teams from various districts to receive training and conduct site visits on the Mainland by batches. This will enable them to gain a deeper understanding of national development and the Mainland’s experience in grassroots governance so that they can apply what they have learned in their future district work and better serve the community.”

Miss Mak added, “This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The HKSAR Government will proactively align with the national development blueprint and complete the formulation of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan. I hope Care Team captains will seize this valuable learning opportunity to understand the content of the National 15th Five-Year Plan and learn from Beijing’s experience in grassroots governance. They should turn what they have learned into practical outcomes in strengthening district governance, continuously optimising district work, and injecting more caring force into the community.”

The programme will last for four days. Participants include captains of Care Teams from all 18 districts of Hong Kong. The training content covers General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on grassroots governance, and proactive alignment with the overall development of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Through on-site teaching and visits to sites such as the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, participants will gain multifaceted and in-depth understanding of the country’s experience and practices in grassroots governance.

After the opening ceremony, Miss Mak called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and met with Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Ms Zhang Dongmei.

July 28, 2026

Two persons arrested during joint anti-illegal worker operation by Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Two persons arrested during joint anti-illegal worker operation by Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority
     As there have been suspected illegal workers utilising social media platforms to advertise tour guide and photo-taking services in Hong Kong, the ImmD and the TIA initiated an operation. Officers disguised as customers enquired about and booked services from the suspects. The suspects were subsequently arrested while providing such services in Hong Kong. The arrested illegal workers were women, aged 22 and 31. The ImmD will consider prosecution against them for the offence of breaching conditions of stay.

     The ImmD and the TIA have also deployed officers to distribute leaflets to the public and visitors at tourist hotspots, conveying the message of “Don’t employ illegal tour escort or tourist guides”.

     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”

     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:33

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July 28, 2026

CFS finds trace of nitrofuran metabolite in rabbitfish sample

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 28) announced that a trace amount of metabolite of nitrofuran (AOZ), a non-permitted veterinary drug, was found in a rabbitfish sample. A follow-up investigation is in progress.

A CFS spokesman said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned rabbitfish sample from a licensed fresh provision shop in Kowloon City for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained AOZ at a level of 7 parts per billion.

The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity. According to the information provided by the vendor, there was no remaining stock of the affected batch. The CFS will trace the source and distribution of the affected product.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

July 28, 2026

UGC Chairman responds to HKU President’s departure upon completion of current term

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following press release is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

On the announcement of the departure of the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Professor Zhang Xiang, upon completion of his current term in 2028, the Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Mr Tim Lui, expressed respect for Professor Zhang’s decision and extended sincere gratitude for his contributions to Hong Kong’s higher education over the years.

Mr Lui said, “HKU has consistently ranked among the world’s top universities and has long been committed to attracting world-class academic talent. On behalf of the UGC, I would like to thank Professor Zhang for his leadership in HKU’s development over the past few years. I look forward to the university community upholding the spirit of innovation and continuing to contribute to the development of Hong Kong and the nation.”

July 28, 2026

Counter-terrorism drill concludes

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Customs & Excise Department, in collaboration with the Immigration Department, conducted a joint counter-terrorism exercise today at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

About 100 officers from both departments participated in the drill.

The exercise simulated a joint operation during a major festival, targeting an outbound private car with a driver and passenger suspected of being linked to terrorist activities.

Officers detected suspected terrorism-related items and forged travel documents inside the vehicle.

During the examination, a suspected bomb device was discovered at the outbound private car kiosk. Officers immediately initiated an emergency plan and evacuated everyone at the scene in a safe and orderly manner.

This exercise enhanced frontline officers’ counter-terrorism awareness and intelligence-handling capabilities. It also strengthened inter-departmental co-ordination and communication in response to terrorism-related emergencies, protecting public safety and safeguarding national security.

July 28, 2026

HK men’s foil team wins silver

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law today congratulated the Hong Kong China men’s foil team on winning a silver medal in the Men’s Team Foil event at the Fencing World Championships 2026.

The team comprises Ryan Choi, Cheung Ka-long, Harris Ho and Leung Chin-yu. Miss Law praised their outstanding performance throughout the competition, which showcased the determination and perseverance of Hong Kong athletes.

“I am proud that they have made history by winning Hong Kong’s first-ever team silver medal at the Fencing World Championships,” Miss Law said.

“I also hope that the Hong Kong China fencing team will continue to strive for excellence and achieve greater success at the 20th Asian Games this September,” she added.

July 28, 2026

HKU president recruitment to begin

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau today said the Hong Kong SAR Government is aware Prof Zhang Xiang will step down as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) when his current term ends on July 14, 2028.

Following a meeting, the HKU Council announced Prof Zhang’s decision and stated that HKU will launch a global search for his successor.

The Government expressed its gratitude to Prof Zhang for his contributions to the university during his tenure.

It noted that the recruitment of the President and Vice-Chancellor falls under institutional autonomy. The exercise will be handled of by the HKU Council in accordance with the HKU Ordinance.

The Government reiterated total trust in the HKU Council’s ability to select the most suitable candidate to serve HKU’s long-term interests and development needs.

July 28, 2026

Mainland circular tech leader ATRenew opens first Hong Kong store establishing city as go-global hub

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 28) announced ATRenew Inc. (ATRenew), the Chinese Mainland’s leading pre-owned consumer electronics transactions and services platform, had opened its first physical store under its new consumer brand RERE – short for Revalue and Renew – in Hong Kong. This launch positions the city as a go-global hub for the growing circular economy while bringing the group’s consumer buyback and retail operations to Hong Kong for the first time – complementing its long-standing business-to-business (B2B) pre-owned electronics trading ecosystem.

Located in Tsuen Wan, the store launches under ATRenew’s new consumer brand RERE marks a major step in taking the company’s brand, sustainability innovation and business model global. For traded-in smartphones, ATRenew developed a proprietary data destruction system certified by international authority ADISA Certification. Utilising advanced multi-pass data overwriting, the platform ensures fully traceable and unrecoverable data erasure – eliminating data theft risks at the source and setting a high standard for privacy and data protection for users.

At the heart of ATRenew’s offering is a set of proprietary, AI-backed technologies. Self-service tools allow customers to value and sell a device in minutes, while automated quality inspection – refined through diagnostic data from the group’s extensive Mainland facilities – delivers high-precision grading. Combined with a standardised digital device-identity system, ATRenew ensures quality, defect traceability, driving efficiency and security for cross-border transactions. These capabilities empower FoneSquare, its new B2B global trading platform, giving overseas wholesale buyers confidence in the origin and condition of every device.

The opening is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding with leading retailer JD Mall Hong Kong. Under this partnership, the group will roll out in-store one-stop buyback services for electronic devices, making it easy for shoppers citywide to sell or trade in pre-owned devices.

The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “ATRenew represents a great Chinese green story, and we are delighted that Hong Kong serves as a prominent showcase of the group’s full recycling-to-retail model in service of the circular economy. As an international investment and trade hub operating under common law, Hong Kong is not just a financing engine but also an ideal test bed for innovations. Today, we also warmly welcome two of our InvestHK clients, ATRenew and JD.com, joining hands in driving sustainability innovation. This expansion demonstrates our strengths as a go-global springboard for both Mainland and overseas businesses with green aspirations.”

The Founder and Chef Executive Officer of ATRenew, Mr Kerry Chen, said, “The global circular economy is entering a critical growth phase, with Hong Kong serving as the central hub for ATRenew’s overseas supply chain and brand expansion. Driven by our three-pillar globalisation strategy of ‘business, capabilities, and brand’, ATRenew is extending its well-established standardisation, automated technologies, and robust supply chain overseas. We are committed to making buy-back services more accessible and providing users worldwide with high-quality pre-owned products, empowering a green and sustainable future.”

Globally, rising environmental awareness and demand for value are fuelling fast-growing appetite for quality pre-owned electronics. International Data Corporation projects the worldwide market for used smartphones to surpass 430 million units, with a market value of close to US$110 billion, by 2027.

Looking ahead, ATRenew plans to build on its Hong Kong-Dubai “dual-hub” for international growth, establishing its full recycling-to-retail ecosystem across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa.

InvestHK provided end-to-end support to facilitate ATRenew’s expansion in Hong Kong, offering market intelligence, business matching, and setup guidance. It also connected the group with key partners and supported its international expansion and compliance navigation – advancing ATRenew’s ambition to build RERE into a globally recognised certified pre-owned brand.

For more information about ATRenew, please visit www.atrenew.com.

July 28, 2026

SEE attends 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Shenzhen

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

SEE attends 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry in Shenzhen (with photo)
     Speaking at the meeting, Mr Tse said that Hong Kong, although highly urbanised, has rich natural ecology. After sustained afforestation and enrichment projects, Hong Kong’s woodlands and plantations coverage has leaped from 17 per cent at the turn of the century to 30 per cent today. Hong Kong is also endowed with rich biodiversity, with over 580 species of birds and over 6 000 marine species, with stony coral species surpassing the coral diversity in the Caribbean Sea, and over 3 100 species of vascular plants.

     Mr Tse said that the biodiversity Hong Kong has preserved is a result of the Government’s policies and plans. At present, around 40 per cent of Hong Kong’s land area is designated as country parks and special areas, nurturing diverse flora and fauna. Mr Tse pointed out that before carrying out any major development that might significantly affect woodlands, thorough statutory environmental impact assessments must be implemented to avoid or mitigate impacts on the environment. This can also preserve green spaces so that future generations can continue to enjoy the precious gifts from nature.

     Mr Tse highlighted the Robin’s Nest Country Park, which was established in 2024 with an area of about 530 hectares and is characterised by its rich floral and faunal diversity, including various species of conservation interest, as an example. The abandoned lead mine in the park is one of the most important bat colonies in Hong Kong. Regarding mangrove conservation, one of the meeting’s focuses, Mr Tse said the mangrove stands and wetland habitats located in the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay were designated in 1995 as a wetland of international importance and a Ramsar Site. From the 1980s to 2026, the mangrove coverage at the site has expanded over threefold to over 400 hectares through natural regeneration. Each year, the site supports over 50 000 wintering and migratory waterbirds, including the Black-faced Spoonbill and other threatened species.

     In addition, Mr Tse said that the Long Valley Nature Park, established by restoring abandoned farmlands, provides a large piece of freshwater wetland for water birds, amphibians and reptiles. Hong Kong is also developing the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park, spanning over 300 hectares, in the Northern Metropolis. Mr Tse said Hong Kong fully commits to nature conservation and will continue to achieve harmony between humanity and nature together with other APEC members.

     The FTMM, one of the APEC “China Year” series of activities, marked the return of APEC’s ecological meeting to China after 15 years. The FTMM brought together high-level representatives, experts and scholars from 21 APEC economies and the organisation.

     Mr Tse returned to Hong Kong after attending the meeting.
Issued at HKT 17:38

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July 28, 2026

2026 youthfest@HK programme officially kicks off

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

2026 youthfest@HK programme officially kicks off
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released the Youth Development Blueprint, clearly outlining the policy goals for the healthy growth and diversified development of young people. Apart from implementing over 160 specific actions set out in the Blueprint, approximately 130 additional measures were introduced in view of the latest situation of society and the needs of young people. This aims to ensure that the Blueprint is progressing with the times.

     The themes of the festival are “Nurture Positive Thinking”, “Promote Innovation” and “Inspire Creativity”. Mr Chan said that the numbers of events and participants under the previous three editions of the Youth Festival increased continuously. In the 2025 youthfest@hk, more than 200 events were organised and attracted over 250 000 participants. Special appreciation goes to the Principal Funder, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, for its support. Mr Chan encouraged young people to participate in this year’s various festival activities to enrich their knowledge, broaden their horizons and make friends. He also thanked all sectors of the community for their strong support of youth work.

     Also officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony were the Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung; the Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival, Youth Development Commission, Mr Victor Pang; and the Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Lester Huang. Representatives from various festival participating organisations also attended the event.

     Organisations may submit applications for partner events of youthfest@HK for inclusion of their events in the event calendar and on the official webpage. For the latest updates of the events under the festival programme, please visit the thematic webpage (www.youthfest.hkIssued at HKT 17:12

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